All 11 entries tagged Actions

Follow–up on Introduction to critical thinking

Heres a summary of how I've been getting on with my action points

1. I will apply the critical way process (purpose, audience, key information, logical order) in writing my assignment.
   

   This strategy has been useful whilst I'm writing my assignment. At the beginning of my writing, I just wrote the most important and needed information for my topic. Then, during the self proof reading, I started thinking the order based on logical order, purpose, key information and audience.

   
   
2. I will prepare a set of challenging questions  or mindset when reading books and articles.
   

   I have new habits after applying this strategy when reading a book. My old habits usually just read the title and interesting parts. However, my new habits due to this strategy have made me not only reading the titles but also the published year and contents. I also check some references after reading a book or journal more often to review and use some powerful resources directly.

   
   
3. I will use different kinds of perspective either advantages/disadvantages or positive/negative when I am writing my assignment.
   

   Another strategy has made me aware when I'm collecting the sources of my assignment topic. To include the positive and negative opinion based on some journals in balanced. Sometimes I have tendency to allocate more on the positive sides to support my strategies. At least, this strategy has been giving me an awareness to balance and argue the both sides (positive/negative or advantages/disadvantages).

   
   

: 08 Jan 2012 18:21 |  Tags: A5 Portfolio Actions Follow-Up Wspa |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on Introduction to critical thinking

Workshop Tutor: Austin Griffiths

Introduction

Overall, the workshop has made me to have a better understanding about how to apply and practice critical thinking in my learning journey. The presentation and activities during the workshop has given simple samples how to be critical especially in reading texts which is an important key point as a student. The workshop has ensured me in term of writing my assignment critically such as types of process of choosing or writing our words (purpose, audience, key information, logical order) and having different points of view (argument and against).

Actions

1. I will apply the critical way process (purpose, audience, key information, logical order) in writing my assignment.

2. I will prepare a set of challenging questions  or mindset when reading books and articles.

3. I will use different kinds of perspective either advantages/disadvantages or positive/negative when I am writing my assignment.

To write a follow up, go to http://go.warwick.ac.uk/skills/masters/what_we_offer/workshops/academicskills/a5/blog

: 17 Dec 2011 23:45 |  Tags: A5 Portfolio Actions Wspa |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on An introduction to emotional intelligence

Workshop Tutor: Samantha Tarren

Introduction

I feel grateful to join the introduction to emotional intelligence workshop last week since at the beginning of the workshop, I was thinking to apply this workshop for my students. However, I found lots of interesting things that I can apply for my own learning journey in Warwick and my own career in the future.

The workshop has enabled me to understand more clearly about the concepts, benefits and impacts of an emotional intelligence. Some discussions and activities such as Boston EI questionnaire and body scanning have been useful for my personal reflection. Coincidently, the reflection part has helped me to improve one of my action plan under Warwick personal development skills portfolio.

Actions

1. Based on the Boston EI questionnaire, I need to work on my emotion management part to develop my emotional intelligence better.

2. I am going to apply a quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt which is "No-one can make you feel inferior without your own permission". I believe that this quotation will help motivating myself better in my learning journey especially in completing an assignment.

3. One powerful way given from the workshop how to show our uncomfortable or unhappy situation by using first person. This is going to enhance my leadership and people skills since I am the SSLC for my course.

To write a follow up, go to http://go.warwick.ac.uk/skills/masters/what_we_offer/workshops/ppd/p6/blog

: 17 Dec 2011 22:16 |  Tags: Actions P6 Portfolio Wspa |  Comments (4) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Follow–up on An introduction to skills development and the Warwick Skills Portfolio

Heres a summary of how I've been getting on with my action points

It has been a good christmas break for me which enable me to have more time to reflect what I have done so far from the beginning of term 1. My action plans have been going well even though sometimes it's difficult to manage my time in spending self-reflection time,  social time and assignment progress time. 

At least two of my action plans have been progressing especially the written reflective blog that reminds me to be more reflective. I keep motivating myself to evaluate several situations so that enable to reflect and improve further actions in my learning journey.

: 13 Dec 2011 00:08 |  Tags: Actions Follow-Up P1 Portfolio Wspa |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Follow–up on Speed reading

Heres a summary of how I've been getting on with my action points

To some extent, I have improved my reading skills particularly in increasing the speed and understanding the text. So far, I have been more confident to tap and read the texts from the middle rather than word to word which might be time-consuming. The skip-backing strategy has been very useful for my reading time. As the tutor's suggestion in my previous blog, I stop and record some important learning topics using different ways such as highlighting the texts or typing them in my laptop.

On the other hand, I am still struggling to reduce the subvocalization in reading the texts. I tried to eat some snack when I was reading a book last week but in fact I lost my concentration. I can't try chewing the gum as suggested by the website and tutor since I don't really like it. Hopefully, I can find more powerful strategies to reduce the subvocalization.

: 12 Dec 2011 23:52 |  Tags: A7 Portfolio Actions Follow-Up Wspa |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on Delivering effective presentations

Workshop Tutor: Bev Walshe

Introduction

The workshop has been very useful and practical for my oral communication skills in the future. There are lots of things such as posture, voice pitch, pace, content and structure of presentation have been discussed and practiced in order to make an enganging and interesting presentation.

During this workshop, I was also able to get feedback from the Tutor and learnt other strategies from other participants. The most challenging part of this workshop was when each participant need to prepare and perform a short presentation but this practice was very powerful in developing our confidence and applying the given skills.

Actions

1. I'm going to apply the 'pause' before the start and in between of my presentation.

2. I will practice the presentation using facial expression and gesture, not only the wording of the content.

3. I will use highlighter to my presentation notes in order to read them more easily just in case I forget some points during the presentation.

To write a follow up, go to http://go.warwick.ac.uk/skills/masters/what_we_offer/workshops/ppd/p4/blog

: 03 Dec 2011 23:29 |  Tags: Actions P4 Portfolio Wspa |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on Leading a group project

Workshop Tutor: Mary Sage

Introduction

The workshop has been able to tag the key points or components in leading a group project. There are characteristics of a project, types of leadership and processes or steps of a project. These components have been discussed to make us more aware in order to prepare and lead a successful project.

Overall, the workshop will help me preparing and enhancing my leadership skills in leading a group project in the future. My closest project is the Children's University project organized by Warwick volunteer. The project will start in Term 2 and at the moment we're in the process gathering the ideas and planning the suitable activities.

Below are some of my action plans that I'm going to use for the next project.

Actions

1. I am going to practice balancing and adjusting my leadership type since I'm going to deal with many students with different cultures and background.

2. I will implement on setting or creating general norms or essential agreement among the team members during the first meeting.

3. I am going to apply the GANTT chart in completing a project.

To write a follow up, go to http://go.warwick.ac.uk/skills/masters/what_we_offer/workshops/ppd/p8/blog

: 24 Nov 2011 22:44 |  Tags: Actions P8 Portfolio Wspa |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Follow–up on Speed reading

Heres a summary of how I've been getting on with my action points

1. I will use a pointer such as my finger or pencil to keep me more focus on my reading.
   

   The green pencil given by Warwick has been my favourite pointer since I can easily use it to circle some key points. And, the bright colour of the pencil somehow make me more enthusiastic in reading :)

   
   
2. I will reduce subvocalization when I am reading the texts.
   

   This is the most difficult part for me to apply since I get used to do it even sometimes I like to read aloud the text in order to practice my pronunciation. I am more counting on the pointer to read faster by tapping it to the middle of the text and skip the first and last word of a sentence if the text is not a new theory. I think that I still need some practices and suggestions to reduce the subvocalization when reading a text.

   
   
3. I will avoid "skip-backing" on materials that I read or try reading more slowly if the materials are new or difficult topics.
   

   I have been able to implement the "skip-backing" and able to help saving my reading time. However, in several cases, I am still doing "skip-backing" if I can't understand the idea or topic after reading the whole text.

   
   

: 23 Nov 2011 23:34 |  Tags: A7 Portfolio Actions Follow-Up Wspa |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Follow–up on An introduction to skills development and the Warwick Skills Portfolio

Heres a summary of how I've been getting on with my action points

1. I will spare 10-15 minutes everyday to reflect on my learning experiences or activities on that day.
   

   I find that having a reflection time regularly has made me calmer and thinker before I share or express my opinion. It has helped me out to review things within a day that work successfully of unsuccessfully. Although, it's hard to spare a short of time at the end of the day so that sometimes I am only able to do my self-reflection two or three times in a week.

   
   
2. I am going to read and review some parts related to theorist and reflective characteristics of the the learning styles questionnaire book given from the workshop.
   

   I have reviewed and tried to understand more on the disadvantages of an activist & pragmatic part since I need to be more reflective in order to balance my personality. I think I will read again to monitor my own progress whether I have improved myself on my weaknesses as an activist & pragmatic.

   
   
3. I am encouraging myself to achieve this WSPA since it will help me making a structured reflection on the blog.
   

   This is my first time to have a structured form of reflection by writing a blog. It's good to have the written reflection if you have joined different kinds of workshop since we tend to forget the powerful strategies or tips from the previous workshop. The blog has made me to revisit the handout and review my notes in order to check whether I have applied all the given strategies.

   
   

: 23 Nov 2011 23:16 |  Tags: Actions Follow-Up P1 Portfolio Wspa |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on Speed reading

Workshop Tutor: Han-Na Cha

Introduction

In my opinion, the speed reading is another useful workshop for students in developing and improving their learning journey. By attending this workshop, I am able to know my reading speed level and how to improve the speed. In masters level, students are required to have lots of reading on books and journals. Learning new reading techniques will enhance my reading speed and help me reading more materials to undertstand my subject better.

I found that there are three useful reading techniques which I am going to apply during my reading time. The workshop tutor have suggested to have a proper position from the reader and paper (around 30cm), use a pointer such as pencil or pen to guide us and reduce subvocalization.

Actions

1. I will use a pointer such as my finger or pencil to keep me more focus on my reading.

2. I will reduce subvocalization when I am reading the texts.

3. I  will avoid "skip-backing" on materials that I read or try reading more slowly if the materials are new or difficult topics.

To write a follow up, go to http://go.warwick.ac.uk/skills/masters/what_we_offer/workshops/academicskills/a7/blog

: 12 Nov 2011 16:50 |  Tags: A7 Portfolio Actions Wspa |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem